Celiac.com 05/10/2018 - I remember how depressing it was to discover, soon after I was diagnosed with celiac disease and had to go gluten-free, that most licorice candies contain gluten. It's hard for me to convey just how exciting it was for me, a true licorice lover, to discover a gluten-free alternative for my black licorice cravings: Xtreme ZOT Organic Licorice Original.
It's amazing to me that its only ingredients are “organic licorice root juice extract.” Did you know that for centuries licorice has been a natural treatment for stomach and other ailments? According to the ZOT Web site: “The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, and Hindus recognized the natural medicinal qualities of licorice. In the United States, anise seed is a popular substitute flavoring for licorice. Although the anise seed has an unmistakable licorice flavor, it is not related to the European plant whose roots are the source of true licorice.” Is it possible that I've been eating mostly the anise substitute for many years, and now I've finally discovered REAL licorice?
It's hard to put into words the “black licorice power” that explodes from a single, Tic-Tac-sized piece of ZOT. It's like all the amazing black licorice taste of an entire box of candy licorice, all distilled down to one very small piece of “original licorice root extract,” which, is probably is why it is called “Xtreme.” They definitely don't fool around over at ZOT, and they make the perfect fix for licorice lovers like me.
One thing that is missing, however, is all the junk like sugar, coloring, etc., that are normally included in the candy-form of licorice, so it is truly a healthy choice. Each piece of ZOT takes time to slowly melt in your mouth, so enjoy every moment of it, as I did. The aftertaste of a ZOT reminds me of the tail-end of a full-bodied fine wine, complete with the tannin finish.
Visit their site for more info.

Celiac.com 04/06/2018 - There is a good reason why GlutenTox Home test kits have been around for so long—they work really well—and, like this Web site, have withstood the test of time.
In addition to the GlutenTox Home test kit, they also make a “GlutenTox Pro” kit which is designed for food manufacturers, restaurants, food retailers, etc., to be able to quickly test foods, ingredients, batches, surfaces, etc.
I decided to test my daughter's hot breakfast cereal, which is a pre-packaged oatmeal mixture that is sold at Costco. She loves it, but my concern is the “manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat” disclaimer on the label, and the fact that the oats are not certified gluten-free.
The testing process took only a few minutes to carry out, and I was fully expecting to be the bearer of bad news and have to tell my daughter that it contains gluten. I was, however, quite surprised to find that the cereal tested gluten-free down to 5 parts per million.
The fact that GlutenTox test kits, both the “Home” and “Pro” versions, can test down to 5 parts per million is amazing—this is as accurate as modern professional labs! The kits are perfect for home or professional use, and it's clear that GlutenTox test kits will continue to be a great choice for those who demand a highly sensitive test for gluten.
For more info visit their site.

Did you ever wonder if your gluten-free diet is really 100% gluten-free? Did you know that you're supposed to be getting regular checkups with your doctor to verify that?
The Gluten Detective's stool and urine at-home test kits are designed to verify that your diet is gluten-free, at least during the three or more days prior to running a test.
Both the stool and urine tests do the same thing, and both kits make each type of test very easy to carry out. The kits come complete with everything you need, including gloves, collection instruments, extraction solution, dilution solution, test strip, etc.
There are many reasons to regularly use these kits. For example, if you eat out regularly at restaurants or at friends' houses you could use them to verify that your food has been safe. Alternatively if you got sick after a meal you could also use a test kit to see if gluten was indeed the culprit, instead of not knowing for sure what made you feel sick. Perhaps you need to ditch that favorite restaurant?
Ultimately these kits are designed to help you make better choices with your gluten-free diet, and learn how to stay safe. They are an inexpensive way to regularly monitor your gluten-free dietary compliance.
For more info visit their site.

Something I definitely miss since going gluten-free are spring rolls. Rarely can I find a good gluten-free spring roll. I was definitely feeling lucky when I recently tried Original Gluten-Free Spring Rolls by Lucky Foods.
The rolls are super easy to prepare—mine were ready in around 10 minutes at 375F in a toaster oven. The rolls far exceeded my expectations, and were crispy and delicious. They are an outstanding cross-over product, and you would never know that they are gluten-free.
The dipping sauce that came with them is also fantastic, and the rolls are vegan as well.
If you miss spring rolls and want to feel lucky, I highly recommend that you try Lucky Foods Original Gluten-Free Spring Rolls!
Visit their site for more info: luckyfood.com

Celiac.com 12/09/2017 - For those of you who haven't yet heard about GliadinX, it is a dietary supplement with the highest concentration of AN-PEP, Prolyl Endopeptidase (Aspergillus Niger), and, unlike other enzymes, these have been shown in studies to break down gluten in the stomach.
I've been using them regularly for months, and I tend to take them whenever I eat out, or eat at a friend's house, so basically whenever I don't have control over my food's preparation. Since I began doing this I haven't had any incidents of upset stomach, which are my typical symptoms if I get any cross contamination. However, it is hard to prove a negative...after all, perhaps I haven't had any issues because all of the food I ate was 100% gluten-free...right?
I will now describe a recent glutening incident that involved none other than my Mother, who visited us this past Thanksgiving. How this could happen in my home, after all I'm the owner of Celiac.com, is an embarrassing but true story which I will share here in the hope that it will help you avoid my errors, and perhaps give you a way to recover should something similar ever happen.
My brother brought over three pies for Thanksgiving dessert, one was a gluten-free apple pie, and the other two were pumpkin pies: one was gluten-free, but the other was not. What could go wrong, right? My brother's reasoning for bringing a non gluten-free pie into my house was pretty basic: several of the guests were not on a gluten-free diet, so he wanted to offer them what they were used to.
What you need to know about my Mother is that she's very gluten sensitive. A tiny amount of gluten leaves her wrecked for days. I think you probably know where I'm going here, but basically everyone was busy socializing, eating, or cleaning while dessert was being served, and a friend grabbed a piece of the gluten-containing pumpkin pie (she assumed that if it was in MY house it was gluten-free) and handed it to my Mother. After she swallowed two bites we realized the mistake, but it was too late. My Mother had the look of horror on her face as she realized that the rest of her trip to California was probably ruined.
I immediately flew into action and gave her several capsules of GliadinX, which she took with lots of water. We carried on with the evening, and I checked in with her over the next couple of hours. Amazingly she didn't have any noticeable symptoms or issues, but she was still certain that they were coming, and that she wouldn't get any sleep and would feel horrible the next day. Remarkably, none of her worries came true. She slept fine, and woke up feeling great. We were both amazed because any past similar incidents always ended badly for her.
Suffice it to say that my Mother now keeps a bottle of GliadinX with her all the time...just in case!
--by Scott Adams
Many people have asked Celiac.com how they can order this product, so we've included a "Buy Now" link below to order them directly from the manufacturer:
Sources: Scientific publications on AN-PEP enzymes:
Extra-Intestinal Manifestation of Celiac Disease in Children. Nutrients 2018, 10(6), 755; doi:10.3390/nu10060755
Efficient degradation of gluten by a prolyl endoprotease in a gastrointestinal model
Enzymatic gluten detoxification: the proof of the pudding is in the eating!
Highly efficient gluten degradation with a newly identified prolyl endoprotease: implications for celiac disease
Degradation of gluten in wheat bran and bread drink by means of a proline-specific peptidase

How can you improve Minute's Ready to Serve Brown Rice & Quinoa Cups? Just add garlic!
I thought the non-garlic and non-organic version of their cups were great, and that it would be difficult to improve on the idea, but I was wrong.
I had the pleasure of trying their organic version with garlic, and I must say that the savory flavor is even better than the non-garlic version. And who wouldn't go for an organic version when given a choice? Offering an organic version of these cups was a wise decision.
Just like the Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice & Quinoa Cups, which we reviewed last month, the organic with garlic version is ready to eat in only 60 seconds. You just can't beat the convenience offered by these nutritious, high-fiber, and organic cups.
For lunch today I made one cup with a side salad, and my coworkers were jealous! Besides being organic, these cups do not contain any preservatives, and you don't need to add anything to prepare them—simply heat one in the microwave for a minute. How could it get any easier—or better?!
For more info visit their site.

Celiac.com 08/24/2017 - It's rare to find a quick, nutritious and healthy lunch or snack. Minute's Ready to Serve Brown Rice & Quinoa fits this bill, and contains 16% of daily fiber, which is hard to find in most gluten-free alternatives. Plus it's ready in only 60 seconds
I was also surprised by the minimal ingredients in these microwavable cups. Not counting water, they contain only 5 ingredients.
The first thing I noticed when trying a cup for lunch was how quick and easy it could be made, and the second thing was how good it was! The rice and quinoa are perfectly moist, and the blend is perfectly salted.
I've been able to think of more reasons to have these around than just for lunch or a snack. For example I am thinking about using them as a base for this year's Thanksgiving stuffing. It would take only 3-4 cups for my recipe, and would reduce the amount of work involved by a lot.
I've also used these as a side dish with dinner. The other night I made salmon for my family and heated up 4 cups at the same time, added some broccoli on the side, and had a healthy, gluten-free dinner that was much easier to prepare due to having the cups handy.
Another idea I had is to stir in peanut butter and honey to the heated rice. I know it sounds weird but I bet it would taste good and would make a great snack.
For more info visit their site.

Who would have thought that, if it is done correctly, mixing meat with fruit and vegetables would make an outstanding paleo bar snack? Before I tasted Wild Zora's Taco Pork Meat & Veggie Bar, I certainly would not have believed it.
It is hard to improve upon plain old jerky, but Wild Zora has done just this by mixing it up with healthy fruits like dates, tomatoes, and apricots; and vegetables like bell peppers, onions, celery, and cilantro. The result is a jerky-fruity-vegetable tasting bar that is easy to bite, tastes wonderful, and is perfect for a healthy gluten-free diet.
For more info visit their site.

GliadinX is a dietary supplement with the highest concentration of AN-PEP, Prolyl Endopeptidase (Aspergillus Niger), the most effective enzyme proven to break down gluten in the stomach. This high potency enzyme formulation is specifically designed to break down gliadin, and unlike other enzyme formulas that claim to do the same, there is a growing body of research that backs up the effectiveness of GliadinX (see Sources below).
GliadinX does not prevent and is not a cure for celiac disease, however, extensive scientific research has been conducted at multiple medical centers which has shown that it effectively breaks down gliadin into small, harmless fragments before it can reach the small intestine. GliadinX is perfect for celiacs who still want to eat outside of their home, and not have to worry about cross-contamination, and for those who are gluten sensitive and wish to continue eating gluten.
Many people have asked Celiac.com how they can order this product, so we've included a "Buy Now" link below to order them directly from the manufacturer:
Sources: Scientific publications on AN-PEP enzymes:
Extra-Intestinal Manifestation of Celiac Disease in Children. Nutrients 2018, 10(6), 755; doi:10.3390/nu10060755
Efficient degradation of gluten by a prolyl endoprotease in a gastrointestinal model
Enzymatic gluten detoxification: the proof of the pudding is in the eating!
Highly efficient gluten degradation with a newly identified prolyl endoprotease: implications for celiac disease
Degradation of gluten in wheat bran and bread drink by means of a proline-specific peptidase

I tried a Q Cups™ Savory Garlic & Mushroom for lunch yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. Many of the meals in a cup that I've tried are overpowering in flavor, but not Q Cups™.
The hearty texture and taste came mostly from the quinoa and shiitake mushrooms. There was a mild hint of seasonings that included chives, garlic, celery, thyme, and bay leaves.
My overall impression was that in just 5 minutes I could have a healthy, gluten-free meal. Q Cups™ are perfect for a quick lunch at the office, or to take on camping trips or planes.
Visit their site for more info.

Did you know that Milton's Craft Bakers makes an outstanding line of gluten-free chips and crackers? I didn't, but was recently lucky enough to get to try out their Gluten-Free Himalayan Salt Baked Chips and their Gluten-Free Crispy Sea Salt Crackers.
What really stood out about each of these wonderful gluten-free snacks was their lightness—since both are perfectly baked instead of fried, they tasted light, healthy, and very crunchy. The Crispy Sea Salt Crackers were perfect for dipping. I tried them with a jalapeno and artichoke dip, and they were wonderful, and I also had them with a sharp cheddar cheese on top. They seem to go great with everything, and are made with multiple grains including millet, brown rice, gluten-free oats, and corn.
Likewise, the Himalayan Salt Baked Chips were similarly versatile, and were far lighter tasting than regular tortilla chips. Besides being gluten-free, the chips are also free of dairy, nut, soy, and eggs, and are made with corn, brown rice, lentils, and chick peas. Both snacks are non-GMO, Kosher, and don't contain any cholesterol.
These outstanding snacks are a perfect addition to any party or event, or just to have as a snack on your own. They are gluten-free, but those who are not on a gluten-free diet will never notice this. Milton's Craft Bakers has done a great job making these wholesome, gluten-free snacks.
Visit their site for more info.

After years of dreaming about such a device, a pocket-sized home gluten sensor is finally here!
I received mine and immediately began testing products that I eat often, just to make sure that they are really gluten-free. It is well known that even products that are labeled gluten-free sometimes test positive for gluten.
After opening a fairly large box that it was beautifully packaged in, I was surprised to see that it is indeed pocket-sized! The quick start guide allowed me to run a test almost immediately, and the first product I tested was a can of re-fried black beans that I eat regularly on corn tostada shells.
The test was very simple to run: I took a pea-sized sample of the beans and put them in the one-time-use capsule, inserted the capsule into the sensor, pressed start and waited about 3 minutes. The sensor made some noises while running, and then I saw a smiley face appear, which meant that my beans were safe and below 20 ppm (if the wheat icon shows up it isn't safe).
Another key feature Nima offers is their smartphone app that allows you to share and upload test results with other Nima users.
If you are looking for the ultimate peace of mind, I highly recommend Nima Sensor!
For more info visit their site.

SweetLeaf® Stevia Sweetener is an outstanding choice in place of sugar or any other replacement sweetener. For a variety of reasons, it is far superior to other sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame K, or neotame.
It is also gluten-free and doesn't contain calories, carbohydrates, or any artificial ingredients, and yet it tastes exactly like sugar but does not trigger a glycemic response so it is perfect for people with diabetes.
SweetLeaf® is available in 35- or 70-packet boxes, or in a shaker jar, and they also produce a liquid stevia version which comes in a variety of flavors.
For more information, visit www.SweetLeaf.com.
Review written by Scott Adams.

Today I had the pleasure of trying out two new products from Three Bakers Gluten Free: Chocolate Chip Snackers and Honey Graham Snackers, and I'm very impressed by both.
Just as the "Snackers" name implies, these new products make a perfect snack. The texture of Snackers is a bit like a cracker, bit their taste is more like a cookie. I really like the fact that the first ingredient is whole grain brown rice flour, which has more fiber and nutritional value than plain rice flour.
The Honey Graham Snackers had an identical flavor to regular wheat graham crackers that I've missed so much. You can really tasted the honey graham flavor.
The Chocolate Chip Snackers tasted remarkably like a great chocolate chip cookie, but again, these have the consistency of crackers, so you never get the feeling that they are too sweet or unhealthy.
Overall I highly recommend these new treats to anyone, regardless of whether or not they avoid gluten, as they will be enjoyed by all. I will also be including them as a treat in my daughter's school lunches because she absolutely loves them!
For more info visit their site.

When I first tried SweetLeaf® Organics Organic Stevia Sweetener I was amazed. How could it be sugar- and gluten-free and not contain calories, carbohydrates, artificial ingredients, aspartame, sucralose, methanol, etc.? To me it tastes exactly like sugar, yet it won't trigger the same dreaded glycemic response.
This sweetener is not just for diabetics, as my 11 year old daughter will soon find out, it is for anyone who wants to avoid the pitfalls of eating too much sugar—and the best thing of all, at least to me, is that it is also gluten-free.
It is available in 35- or 70-packet boxes, or a shaker jar, and they even make a liquid stevia version which comes in a variety of flavors.
For more information, visit www.SweetLeaf.com.
Review written by Scott Adams.

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Celiac.com was founded in 1995 by Scott Adams, author of Cereal Killers, founder and publisher of Journal of Gluten Sensitivity, and founder of The Gluten-Free Mall, who had a single goal for the site: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed and living a happy, healthy gluten-free life!